
What does Åkubo mean?
What does Åkubo mean? Samurai and guns – woo hoo! Continue reading What does Åkubo mean?
What does Åkubo mean? Samurai and guns – woo hoo! Continue reading What does Åkubo mean?
I’m gonna get some blow back for this one.
Next stop on the Yamanote Line:
Shin-Åkubo Continue reading Yamanote Line: Shin-Åkubo
All aboard the #YamanoteLine!
Next stop?
#Harajuku, #Yoyogi, #Shinjuku! Continue reading Yamanote Line: Harajuku, Yoyogi, and Shinjuku
Shinjuku is one of the craziest places in Tokyo. Guess what. It’s ALWAYS been like that! Continue reading What does Shinjuku mean?
Continuing with our 24th installment of exploring Edo-TÅkyÅ via the Åedo Line. Continue reading Åedo Line: TochÅmae and Nishi-Shinjuku Go-chÅme
Continuing with our 23rd installment of exploring Edo-TÅkyÅ via the Åedo Line. Continue reading Åedo Line: Yoyogi and Shinjuku
Continuing with our 4th installment of exploring Edo-TÅkyÅ via the Åedo Line. Continue reading Åedo Line: Ushigome-YanagichÅ and Ushigome-Kagurazaka
Continuing with our 3rd installment of exploring Edo-TÅkyÅ via the Åedo Line. Continue reading Åedo Line: Higashi-Shinjuku and Wakamatsu-Kawada
In Tokyo’s most crowded ward, there’s a place only 900 people live. Shinanomachi is an EPIC place name. Continue reading What does Shinanomachi mean?
The story of the Kanda River is a story as old as Edo itself. It is part and parcel of the evolution of the city. Continue reading The Kanda River
OK, so I’ve wanted to write about Ichigaya for a long time, but it is connected to a few other place names which have made it difficult to cover until now. Iâm just gonna through this out there now and say my gut instinct tells me none of the etymologies weâll see today are correct and weâll never know the true etymology. That said, there’s a little Ota Dokan connection, so heads up to all the Ota Dokan fans out there. Continue reading What does Ichigaya mean?
I’m not even joking when I say I think this name was chosen just because it sounded cool. Continue reading What does Toranomon mean?
Kondo Isami’s dÅjÅ? The birthplace of the Shinsengumi? Lead poisoning? Shinjuku? WTF??? Continue reading What does Ushigome-Yanagicho mean?
ç蟌 Ushigome (Crowd of Cows) ã ã ç ushi cow 蟌 komi[i] swarming, huddling, amassed, crowded, âin bulkâ ã According to Japanese Wikipedia[ii], in 701, in accordance to the TaihÅ Code, a livestock ranch was established in this area. In fact, two were established which were sometimes referred to as çç§ gyÅ«maki a cow ranch and éŠ¬ç§ umamaki a horse ranch. These two locations came to be referred to as ç蟌 Ushigome and é§èŸŒ Komagome. The fact that there was a cattle/dairy ranch here in the Asuka Period is a known fact (itâs documented). The horse ranch is a different … Continue reading What does Ushigome mean?
Ota Dokan again?
Yes. Since I talked about Shakujii and Nerima last week, this week I’ve decided to hit the next most closely related topics; Toshima, Kita, and Itabashi. By Wednesday… and with the help of a simple map, you’ll probably see what’s going on here clearly. Continue reading What does Toshima mean?
Takadanobaba is a long-ass name. A long-ass SAMURAI name. Let’s find out what the hell Takadanobaba means. Continue reading What does Takadanobaba mean?
This one doesnât have much of a story, but itâs definitely a cool spot in Tokyo. Kagura is a kind of Shinto ritual dance. Continue reading What does Kagurazaka mean?
æ°å®¿ Shinjuku (New Shuku â New Post Town) The word 宿 shuku (å®¿å Ž shuku-ba ârest townâ) was used in the Edo Period to refer to post towns on the highway system connecting various feudal domains. When a certain daimyÅ built his lower residence in the area, a new post town was created on the KÅshÅ« KaidÅ post road and named ânew post town.â The daimyÅ family who lived here was called å è€Â (NaitÅ), so the name of the town became NaitÅ–Shinjuku (New Shuku Naito). The name Naito-Shinjuku persisted until the 1920’s. As a post town, there would have been many places to drink and get laid. … Continue reading Why is Shinjuku called Shinjuku?
Ever heard of Yodobashi Camera? Sure, you have. Ever heard of Yodobashi Ward, Tokyo? Probably not. Every heard of the Yodo Bridge in Tokyo? Most likely not. Have you ever been to Shinjuku or Nakano? Probably, yes…. Continue reading Yodobashi – A Haunted Bridge in Nakano?